Laundry shake-out tumbler



Jan- 12,' 1937.

E. D. PURKETTV LAUNDRY SHAKE-OUT TUMBLER Filed July 26, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l 12, 1937. E. D, PURKETT 2,067,543

LAUNDRY SHAKE-OUT TUMBLER Filed July 26, i935- s sheets-sheet 2 Jan.'12, 1937. ab. PURKETT LAUNDRY SHARE-OUT TUMBLER s sheets-sheet 3 Filed July 26, 1935 3mm/vio@ m w P M M rm.

Patented Jan. 12, v1937 `Edward l). Purkett, Joplin, Mo., assignor to Purkett Laundry Company, Joplin, Mo., a lcorporation of Missouri f Application July 26, 1935, Serial No. 33,355

8 Claims.

This invention relates to laundry shake-out tumblers, and is an improvement over the apparatus described and claimed in my prior Patent No. 2,002,796, granted May 28, 1935.

In laundry practice, such articles as towels, sheets, etc., are ordinarily twisted'or wrung until nearly dry, after they have been laundered. The articles are then subjected to a rather severe 4shaking out to loosen them up preparatory to feeding them to the ironers. For example, a substantlal amount of labor is involved in manually shaking out the articlesand the ironing operation does not produce particularly satisfactory results.

In my prior patent referred to I provide a tumbling cylinder rotatable to lift and drop the articles without any attention on the part of the oper-v ator, and after the articles have been in the apparatus a predetermined length of time, the tumbler is rotated vto a discharging position to drop the articles upona table from which they may be readily picked up and fed to the ironers. The articles thus discharged to the table are in a loose condition particularly satisfactory for ironing, without the use of labor in performing the shaking-out operation.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel shake-out tumbler which eliminates ,the rack and pinion means of my prior patent referred to which was employed for bodily operation, the present invention involving a tumbler which is preferably rotated about a fixed axis from itsfloading and operating position to its discharging position.

A further object is to,y provide an apparatus of the character referred to wherein the discharging operation may take place relatively'higher than the loading operation, thus facilitating the loading of the apparatus and permitting the discharging of the articles to an ordinary receiving table.

` A further object is to provide a laundry shakeout tumbler of the character indicated wherein the position of the parts may be readily varied to provide any desired diierence in the loading and unloading heights.

A further object is to provide an apparatus which occupies one position when being loaded bler wherein the'center of mass of the tumbler and itsvassociated parts is so arranged as to bias the tumbler away from its discharging position to its loading position whereby the tumbler will automatically move to the latter position upon the releasing of a suitable latch after the articles have been discharged from the tumbler.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus which is biased away from both its loading and unloading positions to facilitate the move-A ment of the tumbler from each of its two positions to the other position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the `course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown one embodimen of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation,

FlgureZ is aside elevation.'

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4 4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view on line G-Ii of Figure 1, and,

Figure' is a detail sectional, view of one form of shock absorber which may be used with the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings the numeral I0 designates a pair of spaced supporting frames arranged at opposite sides of the apparatus. Each supporting frame includes a pair of vertical posts II, and the lower ends of the posts at each side ofthe apparatus are connected by a horizontal base member I 2,'which may be in the form of an angle iron, as shown in Figurel. The posts II at opposite sides of the apparatus are connected by suitable cross braces I3, preferably in the form of tubular members welded to the posts II.

The upper ends of the posts VIl at each side of the apparatus are connected by an upper horizontal supporting member I 4, and each of these supporting members carries a bearing I5, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. A disk I6 is arranged inwardly of eachi side frame member and these disks are provided with alined trunnions I1 ro- 'tatably supported by the bearings I5. A tubular brace I8 may be welded at its ends to the disks I6 to assist in bracing' the disks with respect to each other. A hand wheel I9 is secured to each disk I6 by means of small braces 2 0, and it will be apparent that the disks I6, hand wheels I9 and trunnions I1 are preferably coaxial with each other. i

stud may be rotatable in bearings 2l carried by n a sleeve 28. The bearings 2l preferably act both as radial and thrust bearings to rotatably support the tumbler and prevent endwise movement thereof.. Outwardly of the sleevel 28, -the wall 23 may be provided with reinforcing ribs 29, preferably welded thereto. The interior of the tumbler is provided with a plurality of lifting ribs 29', some of which are wider than the remaining ribs and taper to decrease in width away from the opening 25.

The sleeve 28 is integral with a pair of radially extending arms 30 which are preferably tubular and are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the disks i6. The arms 35 and'sleeve 28, being preferably integral with eachother, form a relatively heavy brace between the disks i6 and constitute v the sole supporting means for the tumbler. This bracing means and the member i3 rigidly x the disks L8 with respect to each other.

One of the disks I6 carries an electric motor 3l and this motor drvesa belt 32 whichpasses around the cylindrical portion 22 of the tumbler. A suitable idler pulley 33 may be employed for properly tensioning the belt 82. One of the trunvnions il is preferably provided with an opening to. Additional counter-weights 35 (see Figure 4) may be employed if desired.

The tumbler, disks I6 and associated parts are bodily movable to two positions, namely, the loading and operating position shown in solid lines in Figure 2- and the unloading position shown in brokenilines. Means are provided for latching the )tumbler in 'either of its two positions. Re-

ferrig tFlgures 2 and 5, the numeral 36 desig-v natsajrelatively heavy leaf spring supported at oneend as vat 36' with respect to one of the legs il. The free end of the leaf 'spring carries a pair of spaced stop members 3l and 38 between which is arranged an upstanding pin 39, also carried by the leaf spring. A pair of stop ngers 40 and 4| is carried by the disk i6 adjacent the leaf spring 36, as shown in Figure 5. When the parts are in thel loading position shown inFigures 2 and 5, the stop finger 4B is 'arranged between the pin 39 and the stop member 38, and when the tumbler-is in the unloading position, the stop finger 4| will be arranged between the pin 39 and the stop member 31.,V A pull rod d2 is pivotally connected at its upper end as at 43 to the leaf spring 36 adjacent the free end thereof. The lower end of the pull rod 42 is connected to a treadle 43 secured to a transverse rock shaft d4 having its ends rotatably supported by the base members i2. It will be apparent that depression of the treadle 43 pulls downwardly on the rod 42 to release the elements carried by the leaf spring 3S.

Means for releasing the latch elements referred to is also provided for the forward end of the apparatus. Referring to Figures 3 and 8, the numeral 45 designates an arm carried by the shaft td and pivotally connected as at 66 to one end of the lever 8l. This lever is pivotally supported intermediate its ends as at 48 and is provided at its other end with a pedal 49. It will be apparent that depression of this pedal has the same .enect as the depression of the pedal 43, and the use of the two pedals will be referred to later.

As previously stated, the tumblerv is adapted to swing from the loading and operating position shown in Figure 3 and in solid lines in Figure 2,

to the unloading position shown in broken lines in Figure 2, and if desired, shock absorbing means may be provided for preventing too rapid movement of the tumbler as it approaches each o f its two positions. In practice ithas been found that such shock absorbing means assists in maintaining quietness in the operation of the apparatus. A rod 5b is pivotally connected at its upper end to one of the disks I6, as shown in Figure 3. This cylinder may communicate with the atmosphere at its lower end and may be provided with a slot 53 extending throughout the greater portion of its length so that the piston 5l is freely movable `except near the top of its stroke. A port 54 is provided in the upper end of the cylinder and it is controlled by a smallinwardly opening check valve 55. The cylinder may be pivotally connected as at 55 to a bracket 5l carried by one of the posts l i. It will be apparent that the cylinder 52 is adapted to swing about its pivot to adjust itself to the position of the rod 50 as the latter moves incident to the movement of the tumbler.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the numeralbt designates a tray or table mounted forwardly of the apparatus and supported rwith respect thereto by angle irons 53 or similar elements secured to the forward legs il of the apparatus. The table 58 may be suitably braced as at 80. This table facilitates the loading of the apparatus by providing support for the baskets or other containers for the clothes. I

The operation of the apparatus isas follows:

The tumbler is shown in the loading position in Figure 3 and in solid lines in Figure 2. With the motor 3i operating the belt 32 will rotate the tumblerabout the axisof the trunnion 26. and as previously stated, the motor is adapted to rotate the tumbler regardless o f the position of the tumbler, since the motor maintains a xed rela.- tionship with respect thereto. An operator may dump in the opening 25 a batch of damp clothes K which have been passed through wringers or twisted to Wring excess Water therefrom. The tumbler is permitted to rotate through the necessary period of time, the clothes beingrepeatedly lifted and dropped by the ribs 29 during the rotation of the tumbler.I Because of the tapered construction of the wider ribs 29', lthe articles 1 have a tendency to move away from the opening 25, thus eliminating any tendency for the articles to fall out of the tumbler through the opening 25.

After the tumbling operation has been carried out to completion, the clothes will be well shaken out and loosened, and thus prepared for ironing.

The operator in front of the apparatus may then 75 depress the pedal 49 preparatory to swinging movement of the tumbler to discharging position. Whenthe tumbler is in the loading position referred to, the motor will occupy the position shown in Figure 4, and the substantial weight of the motor will lie to one side of the vertical plane of the axis of the trunnions-I1, and the weight of such parts will overbalance the weight of the parts arranged at the opposite side of the plane referred to. l

When the operator depresses the pedal 49, the inner end of the lever 41 will be raised and will transmit a corresponding movement to the inner end of the arm 45. i The pivotal connection 46 includes a slot in one or the elements 45 or 41 to permit the movement of the parts referred to.

Elevation of the arm 45 rocks the shaft 44, thus pulling downwardly on the rod 42 and the free end of the leaf spring 36. the linger 40 from'the pin 39 and locking member 3B, and the tumbler will be free to swing about the axis of the trunnions I1.

As previously stated, Athe weight of the motor 3|, and any supplemental weight means associated therewith, such as the weight 35, overhalances the tumbler, and accordingly the tumbler is biased away from the loading position at all times when it is in such position. 'I'hus it will be apparent that when the latch elements referred to are released by depressing the pedal 49, the tumbler will start to rotate in a clockwise direction-as viewed in Figures 2 and 3. The overhalancing of the tumbler will not move it completely to discharging position but will provide an initial impetus overcoming the inertia of the parts, thus relieving the operator of the necessity of having to impart initial movement to the parts. With the apparatus constructed as shown, the tumbler will swing approximately 40 degrees from its loading position when the latching means is released. Prior to the point at which the tumbler would otherwise come to rest, the operator may grasp one of the hand wheels I9 and supply suilicient additional'power to cause the tumbler to continue its movement to the unloading position shown in broken lines in Figure 2, and when the parts reach such position, the latch finger 4I, rotating in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5, will engage the locking member 31 to depress the free end of the-leaf spring 3B, whereupon the nger 4I will come into engagement with the pin 39 to limit further movement of the tumbler.v

Under such conditions the tumbler will be in the brokenA line. position shown in 4Figure 2 with the opening 25 facing downwardly. During the various operations referred to, the motor 3I will have continued the rotation of the tumbler, and as the tumbler is rotated in the discharging position. the articles will be discharged from the tumbler to a receiving table, as indicated in dotted linesl in Figure 3 and designated by the numeral 6I. The articles thus discharged will be in a tion, the motor 3l will be arranged to the left of the vertical plane of the trunnlons I1, as viewed in Figure 2 and with the clothes discharged from This action will release the tumbler the latter will be relatively light, and the apparatus will be even more overbalanced than when in loading position. Accordingly the tumbler has a substantial bias away from the unloading position, particularly after the articles have been discharged therefrom, and upon the releasing of the latching means, the tumbler will immediately start to swing away from the unloading position toward the loading position. With the apparatus constructed substantially as shown in the drawings, the impetus imparted to the tumbler from the loading position will cause the tumbler to increase its.speed for about '15 degrees of rotation from the unloading position. Of course, it will be apparent that prior to the reaching of the loading position, the parts will be oppositely overbalanced, but the momentum of the parts after leaving the loading position will be suilicient to carry the tumbler completely to the loading position at which point it automatically locks, ready for the loading operation.

The pivotal connection of the shock absorber operating rod 50 may be placed in such a position that it swings to an equal extent on opposite sides of a plane passing through the trunnions I1 and the pivot 56 of the shock absorber. Accordingly the plunger 5I will occupy the same position adj acent the top of the cylinder 51 when the tumbler is in its loading and unloading positions. 'I'hroughout most of the stroke of the plunger 5|,

the upper end of the cylinder 52 is open to the atmosphere through the slot 53, and during such times, the plunger is freely movable. As it approaches the upper end of its stroke, however, the upper limit of the plunger will close the slot 53, thus trapping air in the upper end of the cylinder 52 and cushioning the approach of the tumbler to its two operative positions. The use of the shock absorber has been found to render the apparatus remarkably quiet in operation.

It will be noted that when the tumbler is in loading position4 its center from Itop to bottom and from end to end is below the axis of the trunnions I1, whereas its center is above such axis of rotation when in the unloading position. The parts may be arranged to make this difference in height even greater, and this feature constitutes an important point in the operation of the apparatus. It is desirable to discharge clothes to receiving table of the character referred to, while at the same time it is desirable to eliminate the necessity of an operator having to lift a basket of wet articles to a substantial height. Accordingly it will be apparent that with the present apparatus the desired loading and unloading of the apparatus is greatly facilitated. Moreover, the apparatus involves the highly novel feature of being biased away from both of its positions referred to, thus rendering it unneces.

sary for the operator to use any substantial force in swinging the tumbler. As a matter of fact, it is not necessary for the operator to touch the apparatus when releasing it from the unloading position, since, upon the depression of the pedal 43, the tumbler will swing completely to its loadthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement oi parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the vinvention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim: p

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a tumbler supported foraxial rotation. means supporting said tumbler for rotation about va substantially horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to the axis oi` said tumbler for bodily swinging movement throughl an arc oi over 180 between loading and unloading positions, overbalancing means biasing said tumbler for swinging'movement about said horizontal axis away from both of said positions, and means for holding said tumbler in either of said positions.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a tumbler supported for axial rotation, means supporting said tumbler for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tumbler for bodily swinging movement through an arc of over 180 between loading and unloading positions, overbalancing means biasing said tumbler for swinging movement about .said horizontal axis away from both of said positions, means for holding said tumbler in either of said positions, said biasing-means comprising a motor bodilymovable with. said tumbler, and means connecting said motor to said tumbler for axially rotating the latter.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising a. tumbler supported for axial rotation and having an axial loading and unloading opening in one end thereof, means for supporting said tumbler for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said rtumbler for bodily swinging movement between loading and unloading positions, theaxis of said tumbler being substantially horizontal and arranged a substantial distance below said horizontal axis when said tumbler is in loading position, means biasing said tumbler for swinging movement about said horizontal axis away from either position, and means for holding said tumbler in either of said positions.

4. Apparatusof the character described comprising a' tumbler supported for axial rotation and having an axial loading and unloading opening in one end thereof, means for supporting said tumblerl for rotation about a substantially horl-l zontal axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tumbler for bodily swinging movement between loading and unloading positions, the axis of said tumbler being substantially horizontal and'arranged a substantial distance below said horizontal axis when said tumbler is in loading position, means biasing said tumbler for swinging movement about said horizontal axis away from either position, means for holding said tumbler in either of said positions, said biasing means comprising a motor bodily movable with said tumbler, and means connecting said motor to said tumbler for axially rotating'the latter.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a tumbler, means for supporting said tumbler for rotation about its axis,' a source -of power for rotating said tumbler and bodily mov-'- able therewith, means for supporting said. tumbler for rotation about a substantially horizonamano ytal. axis substantially perpendicular to said first named axis for bodily swinging movement through anl arc of over 180 between loading and dumping positions with the center oi' mass ofthe parts which rotate about said horizontal axis passing therebeneath, said horizontal axis being arranged between the positions of said center of mass in said positions of said tumbler, and means for limiting the swinging" movement oi' said tumbler abouty said horizontal axis. in said loading and dumping positions.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a tumbler, means for supporting said tumbler for rotation about its axis, a source of power for rotating said tumbler and bodily movable therewith, means for supporting said tumbler for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to said rst named axis for bodily swinging movement through an arc of over 180 between loading and dumping positions with the center of mass of the parts which rotate about said horizontal axis passing therebeneath, said horizontal axis being arranged between the positions of said center of mass in said positions of said tumbler, means for limiting the swinging movement of said tumbler about said horizontal axis in said loading and dumping positions, and releaseable latch means for holding said tumbler in either of said positions.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a tumbler, means for supporting said tumbler for rotation about its axis, a source of power for rotating said tumbler and bodily movable therewith, means for supporting said tumbler for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to said iirst named axis for bodily swinging movement between loading and dumping positions with the center of mass of the parts which rotate about said horix zontal axis passing therebeneath, the axis of said tumbler being substantially horizontal' and arranged a substantial distance below said horizontal axis when said tumbler is in loading position, said horizontal axis being arranged between the positions of said center of mass in said positions of said tumbler, and means for limiting tumbler and motor constituting a bodily movable unit, means for supporting said unit for bodily swinging movement about a horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tumblerv through an are of over 180 to move said tumbler -between loading and ,unloading positions, the'center of mass of said unit being arranged on opposite sides of the vertical plane of said horizontal axis in the two `positions of said tumbler and movable in an arcuate path concentric with said horizontal axis and passing therebeneath when said tumbler moves between its two positions, and means for limiting the swinging movement of said tumbler about said horizontal axis in said loading and dumping positions. 

